What to Bring to a Doctor, Clinic or Hospital in Japan
A practical checklist for foreign residents, tourists, parents and international patients: insurance documents, identification, a medication list, relevant records, payment and language support, plus what changed in 2026 now that the old health insurance cards have expired.
Emergency? Call 119 now. Do not delay emergency care to collect documents or look for an English-speaking clinic. For non-emergency help in English, JNTO's Japan Visitor Hotline runs 24 hours on 050-3816-2787 (+81-50-3816-2787 from overseas).
Quick answer
Residents: a My Number Card registered for health insurance, or your Eligibility Certificate (資格確認書). The old insurance cards are no longer valid. Tourists: passport, travel-insurance details and a way to pay. Everyone: a medication list with active ingredients, allergies, a short symptom summary, relevant records and, for a large hospital, a referral letter.
Records or prescriptions in English? A concise Japanese translation of your medication list and key reports makes the consultation faster and safer.
Translate my medical recordsOn this page
Master checklist
Requirements vary by residence status, insurance, facility and type of care, so contact the provider in advance when you can. Tick items off as you pack.
1. Identification and health insurance
Foreign residents
- Residence card or other photo identification
- My Number Card registered for health insurance (マイナ保険証, Myna Hokensho)
- Or an Eligibility Certificate (資格確認書, Shikaku Kakuninsho) if you do not use the card
- Municipal medical-subsidy certificate, where applicable
Tourists and short-term visitors
- Passport
- Travel or international health-insurance policy details
- Insurer's 24-hour assistance number
- A way to pay the full bill if direct billing is not available
2026 change: the old health insurance cards have expired. MHLW confirms conventional cards expired on their printed date, and no later than 1 December 2025; a temporary allowance to accept them ran until the end of March 2026. Use your registered My Number Card or your Eligibility Certificate. If you have neither, ask your insurer or city office.
2. Referral letters for large hospitals
Large hospitals in Japan expect you to come with a referral letter (紹介状, shōkaijō) from a clinic. Since 1 October 2022, specified hospitals must charge patients without one an extra fee on top of the normal bill.
First visit: ¥7,000 or more
Follow-up visits: ¥3,000 or more (dental: ¥5,000 and ¥1,900). Applies at university and other large hospitals covered by the rule.
Start at a local clinic
A clinic can treat most problems and write a referral if you need hospital care. Emergencies are handled differently.
3. A complete medication list
List every prescription medicine, over-the-counter product and relevant supplement, with both the brand and the active ingredient. Overseas brand names often mean nothing to a Japanese doctor.
| Information | What to record | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine name | Brand and active ingredient | Overseas and Japanese names differ. |
| Strength | Amount per tablet, capsule, patch or dose | The same ingredient comes in different strengths. |
| Dose | How much you take at one time | Supports safe prescribing. |
| Frequency | Once daily, twice daily or as needed | Helps prevent duplication and interactions. |
| Purpose | What it treats | Explains why you take it. |
Bring medicines in their original labelled packaging, or clear photos of the box, blister pack and pharmacy label. Once you have a Japanese medicine notebook (Okusuri Techō), bring that too.
Bringing medicines into Japan is a separate question. Some overseas medicines are prohibited, controlled or need an Import Confirmation Certificate. See the prohibited and restricted medication guide, or get a written medication assessment (from US$59) before you travel.
4. Relevant medical records
Bring records that could change the diagnosis, treatment or continuity of care. Put the most important first.
Specialist care
- Referral letter
- Recent specialist reports
- Relevant blood and laboratory results
- Imaging reports, or images if requested
- Operation or pathology reports
Ongoing or chronic care
- Diagnosis summary
- Recent discharge summary
- Recent medication changes
- Monitoring results
- Your usual doctor's contact details
Less is more. A concise translated clinical summary is usually far more useful to a Japanese doctor than a thick bundle of untranslated pages.
5. A short symptom and allergy summary
- The main symptom and where it is
- When it startedSudden or gradual, and whether it is improving, stable or getting worse.
- What makes it better or worse
- Other symptomsSuch as fever, rash, bleeding or vomiting.
- Allergies and the reactionMedicines, food, latex and contrast dye.
MHLW publishes multilingual registration forms and medical questionnaires in 13 languages, including English, which some clinics use. Complex histories still benefit from a professional translation.
6. Payment and insurance claims
Some clinics accept cards and electronic payment; some smaller ones accept cash only. Tourists and uninsured patients usually pay the full cost directly and claim it back from their insurer later.
Before the visit
- Ask which payment methods are accepted
- Check whether a deposit is needed
- Ask your insurer if prior approval is required
- Ask whether direct billing is possible
- Confirm any interpreter or document fees
Keep after the visit
- Itemised invoice
- Official receipt
- Prescription and pharmacy receipt
- Medical certificate, if your insurer needs one
- Reports and insurer claim forms
Overseas insurers often need these documents in English. See Japan's healthcare system for foreign residents and visitors for wider insurance guidance.
7. Translation and interpreter support
Check language support before you go. "English available" can mean English at reception only, not a full consultation in English. Ask whether the doctor speaks your language, whether an interpreter can attend, whether it must be booked ahead and whether translated records can be sent in advance.
MedicTranslate arranges in-person and remote medical interpreters. See also How to find an English-speaking doctor or clinic in Japan.
8. Extra items for children and pregnancy
For children
- Maternal and Child Health Handbook (母子健康手帳)
- Vaccination records
- Child medical-subsidy certificate, where applicable
- Current age and weight
- Details of any medicine already given
For pregnancy care
- Maternal and Child Health Handbook
- Pregnancy records and due date
- Recent tests and ultrasound reports
- Medicines and supplements
- Documents the maternity provider asked for
The Maternal and Child Health Handbook records health information through pregnancy, birth and childhood. Bring it to every maternity and paediatric appointment. For children's medicines, see Buying children's fever and pain medicine in Japan.
9. Appointment details and practical items
Appointment
- Date, time and reservation number
- Clinic or hospital name, department and doctor
- Address, building and floor
- Fasting, test or referral instructions
- Cancellation and late-arrival rules
Practical
- Phone and charger
- Glasses or hearing aids
- Water, unless you are fasting
- A mask if you have respiratory symptoms
- A support person, if permitted
Large hospitals take time. Allow extra time for registration, insurance checks and finding the department. At reception you can say 予約しています (yoyaku shite imasu), "I have an appointment".
What to confirm before you leave
- The diagnosis or working diagnosis
- Each medicine's name, dose, timing and duration
- Warning signs and what to do if you get worse
- The follow-up date and place
- How test results will reach you
- Receipts, reports and claim documents
If anything is unclear, ask the doctor or pharmacist before you leave.
Want your appointment to go smoothly?
MedicTranslate translates medication lists, referral letters, reports and discharge summaries into Japanese, and arranges interpreters for selected appointments. Clinical decisions remain with licensed healthcare professionals.
- Concise Japanese translations of the records that matter
- In-person or remote medical interpreters
- Receipts and reports translated for overseas insurance claims
Quotes depend on document length, language pair and appointment details. Subject to the applicable terms.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still use my old Japanese health insurance card?
No. Conventional cards expired on their printed date and no later than 1 December 2025, and the temporary allowance to accept them ended in March 2026. Use a My Number Card registered for health insurance or an Eligibility Certificate, and ask your insurer or city office if you have neither.
What should a tourist bring to a doctor in Japan?
Your passport, travel-insurance details including the insurer's assistance number, a way to pay the full bill, a medication list and a short summary of your symptoms.
Do I need a referral letter to see a doctor in Japan?
Not for a local clinic. Large hospitals covered by the rule charge an extra ¥7,000 or more for a first visit without a referral letter, so start at a clinic unless it is an emergency.
Should I bring the actual medicine or only a list?
Bring a written list with active ingredients. The original labelled packaging or clear photos also help the doctor identify each medicine.
Do my medical records need a Japanese translation?
It depends on the provider and the situation. Translation is most useful for records that affect diagnosis, medication safety, consent or treatment planning.
Can I use a translation app?
An app can help with simple conversation but may not handle medical detail, consent or a serious diagnosis reliably.
Should I bring cash?
Yes, some. Payment methods vary and some smaller clinics accept cash only. Confirm before you go and be ready to pay directly if needed.
What should I bring for a child?
Identification and insurance documents, the Maternal and Child Health Handbook if you have one, vaccination records, current age and weight, medicines already given, allergies and relevant records.
Can MedicTranslate give medical advice?
No. MedicTranslate provides translation, interpreting and appointment coordination. Clinical decisions remain with licensed healthcare professionals.
This article provides general preparation information reviewed on 28 September 2026. It is not medical, legal or insurance advice. Requirements vary by facility, insurer and residence status, so confirm them directly with the provider. MedicTranslate provides translation, interpreting and coordination and does not give medical advice. Call 119 for a serious or life-threatening emergency in Japan.
- MHLW: My Number Card as a health insurance card (15 languages)
- MHLW: My Number health insurance card and Eligibility Certificate (Japanese)
- MHLW: FY2022 medical fee revision, including the large-hospital no-referral fee (Japanese)
- MHLW: multilingual materials for foreign patients
- MHLW: bringing medicines for personal use into Japan
- JNTO: Japan Visitor Hotline
- JNTO: information in case of illness or injury
- Government of Japan: the Maternal and Child Health Handbook